RetiredCruiser2015

They are included but some people will add a dollar with drink orders, I always bring 50 in singles for drink tips, service seems quicker with tip.

Agree with you. With the packages, gratuities are included and I suspect shared and distributed among a large collection of staff. We always bring a supply of single to tip our particular server, especially if we are at a place where being served more than once.

When we bring two bottles onto the ship it isn’t enough to bring any to the MDR! :-)

Deleted reply as it had errors. sorry.

haha I know they're ships.

We much prefer Celebrity to any other cruise line BUT we just wish their ships were a little bigger.

Do you think Celebrity could ever steal a Voyager class from Royal?

Im sure if they gave it the Celebrity makeover and magic it would do really well.

 

What do you guys think?

Add two more - DH and myself - to the Nooooo list. 😀

this is the reason that you are here on cruise critic.

 

"now you know."

 

lol

The onboard coupons are not posted on Royal's website.

 

Luckily, Carol recently posted the Diamond couons:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=55284893&postcount=6

Ahhhh...so it is a secret until you board and read the materials in your boarding packet or stateroom? ( this is our first cruise as Diamond). I was considering advance purchase but wil now wait until boarding? Thanks for your help and clarification.

Ok..color me confused. You all reference Diamond Internet benefit so I went to the RCL website. Cannot find anything under Diamond benefit that references internet. both my Hubble and I are Diamond. Any direction is appreciated.

This is an awesome thread. Thought I was pretty good at thinking of everything, but this has some great things I hadn’t thought of!

Sent from my iPad using Forums

My thought precisely. I’m in a hotel sometimes twice a month and carry the little cardboard folder the card comes in so I don’t forget my room number.

Me too...traveled so much on business before I retired that I needed the visual to remember what room I was in this time.😀😀😀

I expected to be in the minority (my wife thinks I'm crazy :) ) I was just curious by how much. Like I said, I have no problem with getting a better room or better service or a better airline seat by paying more. The part that bothers me is the "nyah nyah...you can't come in" feature.

So I guess you have the same emotions when you want by the airline clubs at the airports? [emoji3][emoji3][emoji3]

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Have you considered a car service? We used one from Rome city to the port for about 125 Euros. Trip Advisor has some with great reviews.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Sounds like all your questions got answered. You will love Celebrity!

Sent from my iPad using Forums

You’ll see everything! We pack a sport coat when on longer cruises but wouldn’t bother for a shorter cruise just to weAr it one night. A nice shirt and dress pants (with or without tie). Use tie rather than a sport coat to dress it up if you want...much easier to pack than a sport coat.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

One would think that for the price you pay for the Royal Suite they could at least include free dining at the specialty restaurants! Oh well, I know we will enjoy the 10 days which includes 5 sailing days!

I wish RCL would do that too as they do on Celebrity. If perks were the same as Celebrity, I would move up to the RS from the OS.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Since CBP is the tightest bottleneck when embarking at Canada Place, arguably it can cause any amount of delay from the literal time of fiddling with the kiosk/speaking to the agent up to 2+ hours because you are forced to wait once they hit capacity - you may be held in the first room or after security, but the reason for the wait is still CBP who process people slower than any other element in the process.

 

 

 

Biggest factor is how many ships in port with you - on a 3 ship day, planning for a total boarding time of 3 hours means you should usually be pleasantly surprised... unless it's one of the first few early in the season (when new staff needing trained and even old staff needing to refamiliarise themselves as we are not a year-round cruise port, so the speed of doing everything is slow enough that queues just keep building until 3pm) coming as late as possible usually means no waiting.

 

 

 

 

 

If you're cruising June or later, aim to be at the pier for 2-3pm (NB: at least 90mins before ship departs!) and you can end up literally not even stopping except when you actually need to actually interact with someone (and even then it's quicker - easier for staff to find your paperwork among a dozen people than 2,000+!)

This sounds a lot uglier than I expected. Happy for the heads up!

[emoji3]

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Cruising from Vancouver to Alaska on RCL, so assume the same would hold true as the first stop is US, true? Any idea how much time going through US customers at the Vancouver port adds to the check in process?

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Yes! However if I recall correct, only until 1:00 or 1:30. Suggest going to Michaels once you board and the concierge there can confirm hours and will even escort you to Michaels. You can also leave any carry ones in Michaels if you would like.

Image IS the Reflection Suite which is only available on the Celebrity Reflection. We were in one of the adjacent Signature Suites last summer and has an opportunity to visit with the guests in the Reflection Suite.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Celebrity no longer posts floor plans of their staterooms. I think it is because they vary from ship to ship depending on when they were refurbished last. Have not been able to find them on their website for awhile. Sometimes a google search digs up some previously posted information which may no longer be valid. (Or if they are there, I can’t seem to find them anymore) :-)

Sent from my iPad using Forums

The lounges open with your SeaPass card. Since you are Diamond in a Suite, your gold card will open both doors.

 

 

 

The two lounges are on Deck 13, right at the elevator lobby. They are accessible, by ascending in the elevator, as soon as you are on board.

 

 

 

There won't be anything in there, but you can just sit and relax and wait for cabins to be available around 1.

Thanks!

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Does anyone know if these lounges are open on embarkation day and if so, what Time?

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Thanks...found them on the deck plans. The Concierge Lounge and Diamond Lounge are right near each other. Appreciate the lunch recommendation. Will wait to see if anyone knows if the Concierge Lounge opens earlier. I may have to call RCL. Thanks.

This is the first time I have sailed Radiance of the Seas and the first time sailing as a Diamond. A few questions that I hope someone can help with.

I am Diamond and staying in an Owners Suite and cannot find Information on the embarkation benefits (other than priority boarding) for Suite or Diamond Guests.

1. Is the Diamond Lounge or Concierge Lounge open as an option for post boarding relaxation? Or are decks and bars the only option?

2. Where are the longes located? RCL online deck plans are difficult to read and can’t find.

3. Are there any lunch options upon boarding other than Windjammer?

We usually sail Celebrity and enjoy going to Michaels Club upon loading and then having lunch in Luminea.

Appreciate insight,Thank you.

Drinks free, minimal snacks (just a small nut type mix on last cruise). There is a small hor de’ oeuvres plate during evening cocktail hour - don’t remember what time.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

It can go either way...Multi city versus 2 one way tickets...we have done both depending on price. for July this year, it was cheaper to book two one way tickets than multi city for United Houston to Vancouver and then Anchorage to Houston.

Sent from my iPad using Forums